Uruguay Adventure

Looking for a unique destination for a family trip?  Look no further than the Four Seasons Carmello in Uruguay which is offering a Kids Package through January 3, 2013.  Your package includes daily buffet breakfast for the whole family in Pura restaurant (for up to two adults and two kids under 12 sharing a guest room with their parents), sweet treat for kids on arrival, daily kids’ activities in Kids For All Seasons Club, one pizza night per stay including non-alcoholic beverages and 50% discount on a second room for children under 18.  Located in the middle of the forest along the vast Rio de la Plata, the 44 room luxury property is just 2 hours by car and ferry from Buenos Aires.  This gorgeous and rural retreat has a relaxing Balian style of design and array of family friendly amenities and recreation.  Activities include guided horseback outings, polo lessons, spa, tennis, gym, kids club, indoor and outdoor pools.  There are also a variety of family activities from cooking classes to treasure hunts.

Family Magnifique

Choose from 91 destinations around the world to take advantage of Sofitel’s Magnifique Family package.  Your family will receive a discount of 50% off the cost of your children’s room when you reserve two rooms, complimentary breakfast for your children and a late check-out until 4:00 p.m. when available.  Cancellation is one day prior to arrival.  Note that for each night booked through the Magnifique Family offer, Sofitel donates €2.00 to the Fondation Saint Exupéry.   These donations are paid by Sofitel and involve no additional cost to you.  The Foundation offers educational and cultural programs which give children and young adolescents access to knowledge and culture. Today, charitable programs exist in Argentina, Morocco, Madagascar, France and Cambodia.   The foundation is named for the author of The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.  This book is perhaps the most read and most translated French book in the world, with over 250 translations since its publication in 1943.  A poetic and philosophical tale illustrated by the author, The Little Prince relates the extraordinary travels of the eponymous hero as he discovers the world of adults.

Family Safari

Lion World Tours debuted a new 11-day family budget safari for $4,040 per adult and $1,799 per child, double occupancy, including roundtrip airfare and all taxes. This special price is valid for a range of dates from January through May and August through October 2013. Airfare is included from New York or Washington, D.C. on South African Airways. The Family Affair package includes four nights in Cape Town and two nights each at two different safari lodges/tented camps as well as internal flights within South Africa, eight breakfasts, four lunches and five dinners.  In Cape Town, the trip includes a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain, a visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium, Cape Point Tour and a dinner at the Gold Restaurant at the Gold of Africa Museum.  At the Thandeka Lodge in the Waterberg Mountain Range, your family will experience a guided cheetah bushwalk, White Lion drive, sunset and sunrise game drives and bird watching. The trip ends at Lakeside or Ravineside Lodge in the Entabeni Safari Conservancy with a scenic helicopter flight, stargazing in the observatory, sunset lake cruises, game viewing and visits to the Predator Centre and the Rhino Orphanage.

Mini Dukes and Duchesses

Duke’s St. James in London is offering a new Mini Dukes and Duchesses Package with dress-up costumes, afternoon tea and kid friendly treats.   With the package, book any room or suite and get a second children’s room for free for children up to age 18!  Rates for two rooms start at £390 (approximately $634) per night with breakfast through January 13, 2013. That’s a 50% savings on standard hotel rates!  Your children can enjoy the option to dress up in pint-sized gowns, tiaras and Windsor-style uniforms for afternoon tea. Whatever the occasion, children are always treated like royalty at the hotel.  Kid-friendly amenities include a cuddly Dukesy dog toy for guests under age six and a bedtime storybook for older children. There are also kid-size slippers and Playstation games in room. The hotel is located in Mayfair close to Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park and the West End.

New Tauck Bridges 2013

Tauck Bridges recently announced four new trips for families.

• Philadelphia to Washington, DC – Discovers what makes the U.S.A. unique in historic Philadelphia, Amish Country, Gettysburg, Mount Vernon & Washington, DC
• Ireland – Celebrates life Irish-style, from Irish music to making Celtic jewelry and pottery, to legendary storytelling and hawking – from Dublin to Killarney and the Cliffs of Moher
• Peru – Explores the land of the Incas and Spanish conquistadores in Colonial Lima and Cusco, the Sacred Valley and the “lost” city of Machu Picchu
• France Family River Cruise – Two nights and sightseeing in Paris, plus a 7-night Rhône Valley cruise aboard Tauck’s ms Swiss Emerald; exploring from the culinary capital of Lyon to van Gogh’s inspiration, Arles, Avignon and more

Amsterdam by Boat

Amsterdam canals can be explored a variety of ways.  Hertz is now offering a new option with a Rent a Boat program that offers a fleet of rental vessels that include, among others, luxury motorboats, gondolas and large boats able to accommodate up to 35 people. The rental program, offered in partnership with Boot Amsterdam, allows you to pilot the vessel yourself or sit back while a skipper does the driving.  Hourly rates start at about $6 per person and about $185 per boat.  The large boats come loaded with party-friendly features, such as a kitchen and bar, sound system and, by special arrangement, chefs and catering services. The company will also arrange theme outings to celebrate special events. Those who pilot their own boat will appreciate the many sightseeing options as you moor next to such big-ticket attractions as the flower market, Royal Palace on Dam Square, the Westertoren church tower, Van Gogh museum and the Rijksmuseum.

Thomson Family Villa Adventures

Adventure tour operator, Thomson Family Adventures, is adding villa based tours perfect for large families and multi-generational groups.  The tours will be created as private family trips which The Family Traveler has coordinated with Thomson in a variety of destinations with great success.  Destinations where villas are available include Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Turkey.  Privacy and exclusivity are also a great benefit for using a villa, even for adventure style travel.   You’ll have all of the Thomson features like a private guide, transportation for your group and included activities depending on your interests.  And only unpack once!  In 2013, Thomson is also rolling out two more destinations with the Smithsonian stamp of experiential learning: Ecuador and the Galapagos and Panama. Did you know the Smithsonian Institute has research stations in Panama? You’ll visit one of their initiatives, the Punta Culebra Nature Centre, to learn about ocean habitats.

Family Getaway to Peru

Family Moments in Luxury

Peninsula Hotels’ nine luxury properties in Asia and the United States are offering the Family Moments package featuring a second room for half off for children 12 and under.  Breakfast is also included for the family with children eating free from the kids’ menu or buffet.  Internet access is also included.  The hotels also feature the Peninsula Kids Academy’s, a collection of cultural and fun activities in each destination to engage your children in a wide variety of cooking experiences, local handcrafts and scavenger hunts.  Activities vary by location and some have an additional cost.  This offer is available through the end of the year at most of the properties.  Peninsula hotels are located in New York, Chicago, Beverly Hills, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Manila.  Next year the Peninsula chain will open their first hotel in Europe and 10th property in Paris.  This offer is available through the end of the year at most of the properties.

Families in India